Tornados Earn Split with Anderson

March 30, 2014

BREVARD, N.C.- The Brevard College baseball team rallied from an early 6-1 deficit on their way to a 7-6 comeback win in the opener of a doubleheader with Anderson University at Gil Coan Field on Sunday before falling 8-7 in the nightcap.

Game 1: Brevard 7, Anderson 6Brevard reliever Dustin Haitchox (S, 2) came in with no outs in the 7th and the tying run on second before a wild pitch and a hit batsmen put runners on the corners. The senior then fanned AU’s Steven Cooper for the first out before inducing a 1-4-3 double play to end the game, stranding the tying run on third.

The Tornados took a 7-6 lead on Eric Renegar’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 5th after clawing their way out of a 6-1 hole to take the opener.

After the teams exchanged runs in the first frame, the Trojans scored five times in the 2nd to take a 6-1 lead against BC starter Kevin Hamilton (W, 2-4).

The righty recovered to shut down the Trojans for the next four innings, allowing BC the chance to rally against starter Thomas Goodwin and reliever David Thompson (L, 3-4).

The Tornados got three runs back in the bottom of the 2nd on Brayden Morris’ two-run double and Brock Helton’s RBI groundout. BC tied the game at 6-6 in the 3rd on Renegar’s RBI single after a Kody Spencer sac fly made it 6-5.

Game 2: Anderson 8, Brevard 7The Tornados made it a one-run game with two runs in the bottom of the 7th, but AU’s Landon Beck (W, 3-4) was able to keep the tying run on first while recording the final two outs.

BC trailed 8-5 going into the final inning before an RBI double by John Slade and a Hunter Donaldson RBI single up the middle made it 8-7.

The Tornados grabbed a 5-0 lead with a five spot in the 2nd before the Trojans rallied for eight runs over the final three at-bats. A throwing error by Haithcox (L, 2-2) prolonged the 6th inning, allowing the Trojans to take the lead with three unearned runs.

The Tornados return to action on Tuesday for a neutral site doubleheader with the Pfeiffer Falcons at McNair Field in Forest City. First pitch of the opener is scheduled for 3 p.m.